BENTONVILLE -- Advertising and Promotion commissioners heard from six design and marketing firms Thursday who presented why they should be chosen to rebrand the Bentonville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The six companies were selected from nine submitting proposals, said Kalene Griffith, bureau president.
Each was given 15 minutes to present their business philosophy, strategy for the rebrand, experience and examples of work. Each presentation was followed by commissioner questions.
Five of the six were either based in or had an office in Arkansas: three in Bentonville, Elkins Design, Main Street Marketing and Swirl; Modthink from Fayetteville and Stone Ward in Little Rock. The sixth, Candid Marketing and Communications, is in Lee Summit, Mo.
Submitted project estimates ranged from $45,000 to $79,000.
Commissioners will meet March 6 to make a decision.
Chairman Chris Sooter said he thought each company had good ideas.
"Some of them have more experience than others on city, tourism campaigns and some are local and some aren't so there are a lot of things to consider," he said.
Each one had different strengths, said Bryan Rose, commissioner.
"Really it's going to take all of us getting together to be able to figure out what's going to be best for the city," he said.
There are a variety of options, and the financial and creative aspects are two big parts to consider, Griffith said.
"We had six great presentations, and it will be a tough decision for us next week," she said.
The selected company will set a time line for the project, but Griffith said she's hoping the campaign will launch sometime this summer.
The bureau is looking to rebrand to include leisure travelers. Bentonville has hosted business travelers for years because of Walmart's office, but with the opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art there has been a new group of people visiting the city.
The rebranding needs to speak to a larger audience and enhance the city's image as a leisure destination, officials said.
NW News on 02/28/2014